Bus rapid transit (BRT)

The RTA and the regional business community have been longstanding supporters of a robust, effective, and enhanced regional transit system.

After more than a year of research, analysis, and outreach, RTA endorsed a bus rapid transit-based approach for Wake County in summer 2013.

We support accelerating enhanced regional transit investment with a broad distribution of those investments across Wake County. The new Wake County recommended transit plan released in December 2015 provides such an investment framework, with an 80+ mile “frequent network” and the initiation of four bus rapid transit corridors.

RTA traveled to greater Seattle, WA and Eugene, OR in October 2014 to learn more about enhanced bus transit options in the Pacific Northwest and to create an outreach video (abbreviated version, full version) that we unveiled in December 2014 at our annual meeting:

See the links below to learn more about RTA’s approach to bus rapid transit:

Frequently Asked Questions: Questions and answers about bus rapid transit and the RTA position on accelerating regional transit in Wake County

FASTER transit network overview: One page overview document of a Freeway And STreet-based Extended Rapid transit network concept for Wake County, including a few illustrative examples

RTA video on BRT: RTA staff and volunteers traveled to greater Seattle, WA and Eugene, OR in October 2014 to learn more about enhanced bus transit options in the Pacific Northwest

Research and background document: 2013 RTA review of the previous draft Wake County transit plan, research and observations on transit in other markets, and our proposal for a bus rapid transit-based approach as an alternative to that draft plan in order to provide a broader distribution of transit investments across Wake County

Overview presentation 2: Overview of a bus rapid transit-based approach for Wake County, presented by RTA Regional Transit Chair Tom Looney at the RTA 12th Annual Meeting, The State of Mobility, in December 2013.

The RTA Transit Innovations Series, held in 2013 and 2014, was initiated to support and advance the discussion of transit in Wake County. The sessions included presentations from national experts on bus rapid transit and related innovations and research.

Additional information about the potential for bus rapid transit in our market can be found here.